Article of repose for supporting the body of a person



ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed 001;. 22, 1952 5 Shee'ts-5heet l MEI- m 41W;

g w m" YNVENTOR QNTON LORENZ 6L ATTORNEY M. ILWWWEMIEJ ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed (90b.

mvramom HNTON LORENZ ATTORNEY LQWENK ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001;. 22, 1952 54! LQQ 458 l lb 454 INVENTOR HNTON LORENZ WM ATTORNEY United States Patent ARTICLE OF REPGSE FOR SUPPORTING THE RUDY @F A PERSON Anton Lorenz, Bulfalo, N. Y.

Application (Dctober 22, 1952, Serial No. 316,276

14 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to an article of furniture, wherein a structure including a seat, a back-rest, and means connecting said back-rest with said seat is swingably mounted on a support.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient controlling mechanism for a leg-rest swingably mounted on the seat of a reclining article of furniture of above described type, by means of which the leg-rest may be propelled forwardly and upwardly at a great initial speed, when the movable members of the article of furniture are swung from their sitting position into a reclined position.

Other objects and structural details will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a different embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away.

Referring now to Fig. l, generally indicates a support comprising sides frames 12 and 14 connected with each other by cross bars 16. The arm-rests of the chair are included in the side frames.

A back-rest 18 having a downward extension 20 is swingably mounted on the support 10 at 22. The rear end portion of a seat 24 is swingably mounted on said support 18 at 26. The upper end of a front connecting link 28 is pivoted to the seat 24 at 30. The lower end of said front connecting link 28 is pivoted at 32 to one end of a lower connecting link 34, the rear end of which is pivoted to the downward extension 20 of the back-rest at 36. The upper end of a guiding link 38 pivoted to the lower connecting link 34 at 40 is swingably mounted on the support 18 at 42. The portion of the support between the pivots 22 and 42 and the portion of the support between the pivots 26 and 42 include the stationary links of a constrained complex linkage, while the downward extension 20 of the back-rest 18, the link chain 34, 28, the seat 24 and the guiding link 38 form the movable links of said constrained complex linkage.

A leg-rest 44 swingably mounted on the front end of the seat 24 at 46 is pivoted at 48 to the front end portion of a controlling link 50. The rear end portion of said controlling link 50 is pivoted at 52 to the lower end of a controlling arm 54, the upper end of which is pivot- 2,743,764 Patented May 1, 1956 ed to the seat 24 at 56. One end of a controlling bar 58 is pivoted to said controlling arm 54 at 60. The other end of said controlling bar 58 is pivoted at 62 to an extension 64 of the guiding link 38 projecting beyond the pivotal connection 40 of the guiding link 38 with the lower connecting link 34.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by an abutment of the downward extension 20 of the back-rest 18 against the rear wall 66 of the support 10.

When the back-rest 18 is swung about its pivot 22 into the extreme reclined position 18' limited by a stop 68 arranged on the support 10, the seat 28 included in above described constrained linkage is moved into the reclined position 24 and the leg-rest 44 is propelled forwardly and upwardly into the position 44'. The controlling mechanism 50, 54, and 58 of the leg-rest 44 operatively connected with the seat 24 and the extension 64 of the guiding link 38 described above causes a comparatively fast upward movement of the leg-rest 44 during the first part of the movement of the back-rest and seat into the reclined position.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the back-rest 118 and the seat 124 are swingably mounted on the support at 122. The link chain comprising the top connecting link and front connecting link 128 pivotally joined at 132 is pivoted to the back-rest 118 at 137 and to the seat 124 at 130. The guiding link 138 pivotally connected with the link chain 128, 135 at 132 is swingably mounted on a lug of the support 110 at 142. A downward extension 164 is included in the structure of the guiding link 138.

Again the controlling arm 154 of the controlling mechanism 150, 154, 158 of the leg-rest 144 swingably mounted on the seat 124 at 146 is pivoted to the seat 124 at 156. The controlling link 158 of said controlling mechanism 150, 154, 158, is pivoted at 162 to the extension 164 of the guiding link 138 projecting downwardly beyond the pivotal connection 142 between the guiding link 138 and the support 110.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by a stop 1'70 arranged on the support 110 for cooperation with the seat 124; the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash and dot lines is limited by a stop 168 arranged on the support 110 for cooperation with the back-rest 118. When the back-rest and seat are swung from the sitting position into the reclined position, the leg-rest is propelled forwardly and upwardly by means of the controlling mechanism 150, 154, 158 in dependence on the movements of the movable links of the constrained linkage including the back-rest and the seat.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the back-rest 218 and seat 224 are jointly pivoted to the support or base 210 at 222. The lower end of the guiding link 238 is pivoted at 242 to the support 210. The upper end of the guiding link 238 is integral with an intermediate link 229 of the link chain 228, 229, 235. The intermediate link 229 of said link chain is pivoted at 231 to one end of the front connecting link 228, the other end of which is pivoted to the seat 224 at 230. Furthermore, said intermediate connecting link 229 is pivoted at 233 to one end of the top connecting link 235 pivoted at the other end to the back-rest 218 at 237.

Again the controlling arm 254 of the controlling mechanism 250, 254, 258 of the leg-rest 244 swingably mounted on the seat at 246 is pivoted to the seat 224 at 256. The rear end of the controlling bar 258, however, is pivoted to a downward extension 220 of the back-rest 218 at 274.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines in Fig. 3 is limited by a stop 270 arranged on the support 210 for cooperation with the downward extension 220 of the back-rest 218. When a person resting in the chair exerts a pressure on the back-rest 218, the back-rest, the seat and the 1eg-rest will be brought into the reclined position 218, 224, 244' shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 3, wherein the legerest is ina predetermined position relative to the seat. Said reclined position 218', 224, 244 is limited by a stop 268 mounted on the support 210 for abutting engagement with the back-rest 7.18. V

Fig. 4 illustrates a reclining chair wherein the back-rest 318 and seat 324 are rigid with each other so as to form a unit 311. Said unit having a downward extension 321 is swingably mounted on the support 31d at 322. The upper end of a guiding element 339 is swingably mounted on the support 310 at 342. One end of a connecting link 341 is pivoted to said guiding element 339 at 3%. The other end of said connecting link 341 is pivoted to the downward extension 321 at 327. Thus, when the unit 311 is swung about its pivot 322 the guiding element 339 is swung about its pivot 342.

A leg-rest 344 swingably mounted on the seat 324 at 346 is in pivotal connection with the upper end of a controlling link 35h at T he lower end of said controlling link 35b is pivoted to the lower end of a controlling arm 354 at 352. The upper end of said controlling arm 354 is pivoted to the seat 324 at ass. The upper end of a controlling bar 353 is pivoted to said controlling arm 354 at 369. The lower end of said controlling arm 358 is pivoted to the guiding element at 362.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines is limited by a stop 368 arranged on the support for abutting engagement with the extension 321 of the unit 311. When the unit 311 is swung into the extreme reclined position 311' shown in dash and dot lines, the leg-rest 344 is propelled forwardly and upwardly into the position 344. The extreme reclined position is limited by an abutting engagement of the unit 311 with the rear wall 366 of the support 314 1 According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the back-rest 418 is swingably mounted on the support 410 at 422. The seat 24 is swingably mounted on the support 410 at 4-26. The lower end of the guiding link 433 is pivoted to the support 41-0 at 442. Theupper end of the guiding link 438 is pivotally joined to the link chain 428, 435 at 432. The front connecting link $223 of said link chain is pivoted to the seat 424 at 43d. Said front connecting link 428 has an extension 482 projecting downwardly beyond its pivotal connection 430 with the seat 424. The rear end of the top connecting link 4355 of the link chain 428, 435 is pivoted to the back-rest 418 at 437.

The front end of a controlling link 4550 is pivotally connected at 448 with a leg-rest 44 i swingably mounted on the seat 424 at 5 86. The other end of said controlling link 450 is pivoted at 452 to a controlling arm 454, the upper end of which is pivoted to the seat 424 at 456. One end of a controlling bar 458 is pivoted to the controlling arm 454 at 460. The other end of said controlling bar 4-58 is pivoted to the extension 482 of the front connecting link 428 at 434.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by a stop 47% arranged on the support 41% for cooperation with the seat 424. When the person resting on the chair exerts a pressure on the back-rest Said position 418, 424' 44 i is limited by a stop 468 mounted on the support 41% for abutting engagement with the backrest 413.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disciosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Furthermore, each of the embodiments shown in the drawings may be equipped with locking means for holding the movable members of the chair in any desired position.

What I claim is:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a support, a structure including a movable seat, a movable back-rest and means coordinating the movements of said seat with movements of said back-rest, said structure being rockably mounted on said support and being part of a constrained linkage having a plurality of movable links and at least one stationary link, said stationary link being included in said support, the other part of said constrained linkage comprising a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat, a controlling arm pivoted to said movable seat, a controlling bar pivoted at different regions thereof to said controlling arm and to a member of said structure other than said seat, the pivotal connection between said controlling bar and said controlling arm being below the pivotal connection between said controlling arm and said seat, and means interposed between said controlling arm and said leg-rest for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with said controlling arm.

2. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said means interposed between the controlling arm and the leg-rest including a controlling link pivoted at difierent regions thereof to said controlling arm and to said legrest.

3. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a support, a structure including a movable seat, a movable back-rest and means coordinating the movements of said seat with movements of said back-rest, said structure being rockably mounted on said support and being part of a constrained linkage having a plurality of movable links and at least one stationary link, said stationary link beingincluded in said support, said back-rest including a downward extension projecting beyond the rocking connection between said structure and said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat, a controlling arm pivoted to said movable seat, a controlling bar pivoted at different regions thereof to said controlling arm and to said extension of the backrest, the pivotal connection between said controlling bar and said controlling arm being below the pivotal connection between said controlling arm and said seat, and means interposed between said controlling arm and said leg-rest for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with said controlling arm.

n 4. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 3, said means interposed between the controlling arm and the leg-rest including a controlling link pivoted at different regions thereof to said controlling arm to said leg-rest.

5. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat member, a back-rest member, guiding means and a chain of connecting links including a first connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and engaged with at least one of said connecting links, said first connecting link being pivoted to the structure of said back-rest member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of the seat member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat members with said support, a leg-rest arm and to a movable link of said constrained linkage other than the seat, the pivotal connection between said controlling bar and said controlling arm being below the pivotal connection between said controlling arm and said seat, and means interposed between said controlling arm and said leg-rest for eflecting movement of the latter in coordination with said controlling arm.

6. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 5, said means interposed between the controlling arm and the leg-rest including a controlling link pivoted at one of its ends to said controlling arm and at its other end to said leg-rest.

7. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 5, said controlling bar being pivoted to the structure of the backrest member.

8. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 5, the structure of said back-rest member including a downward extension, and said controlling bar being pivoted to said downward extension.

9. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 5, said controlling bar being pivoted to said structure of said front connecting link.

10. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 5, the structure of said front controlling link including an extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the seat, and said controlling bar being pivoted to said extension of the front connecting link.

11. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a support means, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said supporting means, said movable links including a seat member, a back-rest member, a guiding link and a chain of connecting links including a first connecting link at one end of the chain and a front connecting link at the other end of the chain, said guiding link, at different regions thereof, being pivoted to said support and being connected with at least one of said connecting links, said first connecting link being pivoted to the structure of said back-rest member, said front connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of the seat member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat members with said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat, a controlling arm pivoted to said seat, a controlling bar pivoted at diiferent regions thereof to said controlling arm and to the structure of said guiding link, the pivotal connection between said controlling bar and said controlling arm being below the pivotal connection between said controlling arm and said seat, and means interposed between said controlling arm and said leg-rest for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with said controlling arm.

12. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11., the structure of said guiding link including an extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the connecting link, and said controlling bar being pivoted to said extension of the guiding link.

13. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 11, the structure of said guiding link including an extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the support, and said controlling bar being pivoted to said extension of the guiding link.

14. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a support means, a unit including a seat and a back-rest rigid with each other, said unit being swingably mounted on said support, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of said seat, a guiding element swingably mounted on said support, first means interposed between said guiding element: and the structure of said unit for eifecting movements of said guiding element in dependence on movements of said unit, a controlling arm pivoted to said seat, a controlling bar pivoted at one of its ends to said controlling arm, the other end of said controlling bar being pivoted to said guiding element, and second means interposed between said controlling arm and said leg-rest for effecting movement of the latter in coordination with said controlling arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,343 Hall M Sept. 25, 1866 2,472,854 Lorenz June 14, 1949 2,478,769 Lorenz Aug. 9, 1949 2,567,222 Lorenz Sept. 11, 1951 2,576,466 Lorenz Nov. 27, 1951 2,613,727 Lorenz Oct. 14, 1952 2,615,498 Lorenz Oct. 28, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,394 Sweden May 13, 1905 220,033 Germany Mar. 14, 1910 

